E30 (1985-1992)
E36 (1992-1999)
E46 (2000-2006)
E90/92/93 (2007-2013)
e36, the versatility with that car is just nuts, however for looks ofcourse the e90.
I think a lot of guys here have either not driven the e92 or e90 m's, or they are comparing the experience of a highly modded e36.
I owned my e36 m3 when it was relatively new (still had factory warranty even). And while I love it, let's be real, stock for stock, the e92 is a better car.
Suspension: Bilstein Sports, GC Coilover conversion, IE Subframe Bushings, IE RTABs, M roadster sways, M roadster front control arms, M roadster Front calipers/hubs.
Engine/Driveline: M54B30 intake Manifold, Dinan CAI, ZHP Cams, Headers, Underdrive pulleys, Conforti Software, 3.46 diff.
I haven't driven an e30 m3, but I voted for the e36. It's hands down the best "driver's" car I've ever experienced. The e9xs don't come close imo.. I mean c'mon, those cars are literally the size of my e39, and the e39 was better executed. The e36 has its shortcomings, interior quality being a big one, but road feel is spot on. The only modern BMW that comes close is the e82.
Good thing the question isn't better car but best M3. This by definition the E30. It's the onlyanswer. Every other M3 is a copy, trying to improve upon something that didn't need improvement. I've driven an e90, feels like I'm resting in my living room gliding down the street, albeit quite fast. I own an e36 because I cant afford an e30. Arguments can be made which is the best car, every one will have their opinions based on whatever they want in a car.
e36 is the best car evar made
1994 325is - s50/zf trans/TRM chip/s52 headers/21.5lb injctrs/3.5 HFM/M3 brakes/billy sports/hr springs/reinforced subframe/camber plates/adj ctrl arms/3.15 LSD
2004 Volvo s40 T5 - Daily
2000 GMC k2500 5.7 - 33's/frame off resto'd
1989 Chevrolet k2500 5.7 rclb
My 95 M3 was the best car i ever owned.
It could have been better with more power, but was such a joy to drive until i over did it with suspension mods.
I totalled it and replaced it with the Z3M Coupe. A different beast altogether. The e36 was better.
I was truthfully underwhelmed with both my e36 m3s. For the money I'd take another 328is with upgraded suspension and a tune/exhaust.
e92 m3
e30 m3
e46 m3
e36 m3
Suspension: Bilstein Sports, GC Coilover conversion, IE Subframe Bushings, IE RTABs, M roadster sways, M roadster front control arms, M roadster Front calipers/hubs.
Engine/Driveline: M54B30 intake Manifold, Dinan CAI, ZHP Cams, Headers, Underdrive pulleys, Conforti Software, 3.46 diff.
From what I've gathered it seems people's favorite m3 is often based on their preferences of comfort, weight, and whether having a "drivers car" (responsiveness, steering feel, road feel, noise, etc) is important. It seems that while comfort, luxury, power, and weight has increased, the "drivers car" aspects have decreased. Nobody would argue with the fact that the e92/e46 m3s offer better performance. But the e30 and e36 offer a rawness that seems to have been lost in recent years. The older enthusiasts tend to discuss this the most and I've spoken to many who have all but given up on BMW for this exact reason. Their market and priorities have shifted. As you said different strokes for different folks.
Personally I can't really contribute a favorite in this discussion as my experience is limited to e36/e46 platforms. But I love my SC e36 M3 and I'm much more excited to one day experience/own an e30 m3 than an e92.
Last edited by bladerealm124; 03-04-2014 at 09:57 PM.
I think its more likely that people are just voting for what they own, and since e36s are the cheapest, their owners dominate this forum and therefore this poll. Half of them probably haven't even seen an e30 M3 in real life, much less has any seat time in any M3 but their 150k mile e36 with a bunch of worn out and broken parts.
I have not driven an e30 yet, but I've driven e36s, e46s, and e92s. For a pure, raw driving experience, I prefer the e36.
But as far as the M3 in general, there's something I like about all of them.
'99 ///M3
'08 F-150
'11 ML350
E36 M3 is timeless design and engineering and perfect driving pleasure balance, I've driven them all and while the E30 is too old technology and outdated, E46 and newer models are too fat no matter what horsepower.
Out of all of the m3's the e36 is dead last and will always be dead last. It is the most neutered M car of the family even the euro version. I believe the next collectible M car will be the e46 m3.
I understand the hate for the e36 but it's a damn good car and a damn good driver...over a 90? No, but the thing is pretty close to briiant, I can literally feel each wheel undulate over bumps at speed...I don't have to trust it I know what it's doing, I trust the e90...they are all great well executed performance cars let's be real
Give me the f80 then the new one when it comes out
This thread intrigues me, but everyone in here is going about it in the wrong way. There is a way to do this without boiling down to personal taste. If I may:
The most important thing to do would be to establish the playing field:
1. What makes an M3 an M3? Feedback? Speed? Acceleration? Fit and finish? Gadgets and creature comforts? Reliability?
2. How does affordability factor into all of this?
Using the E30 as the standard (which I think is fair given its reputation as a driver's car and especially given that it was the first) it would seem that outright power and comfort mean very little in determining which is the best M3. That being said, a little added power isn't a bad thing - except when it's used to disguise a bloated curb weight.
However, the E30 M3 was never a hot seller in its day, often sitting on the showroom floor for months. That has changed with each successive model, most notably with the E36 (the sales figures between the E36 and E30 show the biggest difference, but by then the E30 had established its reputation).
While the E36 may have disappointed enthusiasts, it still outsold the E30 by a landslide. Why? The short answer is because it was an easier car to own and drive daily. It offered more to the driver than just an exciting commute, which, you must concede, it still did (and does) extremely well. Did this make it the better driver's car? Not necessarily.
Each M3 since then has followed the E36's example because that's what was profitable for BMW (ie. more gadgets, more power, more reliability). And yet nobody can say if the M3's marketing success would have been possible without the E30's reputation as a winner and as an involving driver's car.
It then boils down to an even simpler question:
If sheer sales figures do not determine which is the best M3, then it must be the experience. So ask yourself, if you could drive only one M3 and only one time for as long as there was fuel in the tank, which would it be?
That, my friends, is the best M3.
I love each M3 because they had individual aspects that were appealing. Overall, I think the E46 M3 is the best. In my opinion, the E46 looks the best and that S54 is truly something else.
E92 doesn't sound right. V8
E46 or e36 sound classic bmw: 36 is for those who like slim gal's
46 is for those who like more curves.
E30M feels like a museum; looks the most insane and is not fast but feels great. You'll get the most looks for sure
Wanganstyle Powertrain
http://www.wanganstyle.com/
S54B32 E36 M3 DTA S100 Sedan Street car full swap:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1437471
I like the E90M3, but the new model looks like it will be even better and it is great that for the first time the new model will not be any heavier and may even be lighter than the previous model.
From a strictly subjective point of view, the E92 is the best
And frankly for anyone who has significant seat time in each of these models its harder to argue how the best M3 could be anything but the E92.
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The popularity of the e36 M3 is purely a price thing at this point. I have a life long addiction but at this point in the discussion an e36 M3 is on par with a 10 year old honda civic. This means that there are a huge number of young, poor M3 owners who can't hope to restore these cars running them till they take their final trip to the wreckers.
If I put another 30k into my car it would likely keep up with a modern M car but with nowhere close to the safety, comfort, or reliability. That said I have driven the e36's for 15 years and with the addition of a truck for practical driving I will likely be driving and spending money on my current e36 for another 15 years. Properly maintained it is the most driver friendly car that I can not quite afford. The ability to mod it to not quite supercar but more than I can ever hope to safely drive power and handling levels is a wonderful bonus. With a little luck my current e36 will die on a track rather than rusting away from neglect.
I do think the e46 weighs too much but stock for stock it still performs better than the e46. If anyone would like to trade me straight up for a e92 I'm happy to oblige.
97 BMW M3 (s52b32) - VF-Supercharger kit ( Vortech V2-SQ supercharger, 32 pound injectors, VF tuning ), VDO/LeatherZ Gauge Kit (Oil Temp, Oil Pressure, and Boost), UUC Motorwerks RSC36 Exhaust, Stainless Steel 6-2 Exhaust Headers, Bilstein Sports, Rear Adjustable Camber bushings, Wheel Spacers 10mm in front 25mm in back, Uprated Clutch, UUC Shift Knob, Short Shifter and Clutch Stop, Cross Brace, Mason Engineering front strut bar, Contour Wheels, Euro Ellipsoid (Angel Eyes) HID Headlights, braided steel brake lines, aluminum thermostat housing, mishimoto aluminum radiator and silicone hoses and a partridge in a pear tree
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